Collapsible life-boat.



L. VECCHIO.

COLLAPSIBLE LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED APILZO. 19!].

1,282,659., Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

v L. VECCHIO.

COLLAPSIBLE LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20. i917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

prairie:

LUIGI VECCHIO, 0F ALBANY, NEW YORK.

COLLAPSIBLE LIFEJSOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (Oct. 22, 1918.

i Application filed April 20, 1917. Serial No. 163,367.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUIGI Vncor-no, a subj ect of the King of Italy, residing at Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Life-Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a boat capable of receiving and transporting passengers of larger vessels when the latter are endangered from any cause.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce a boat of simple construction, which may be collapsed when not in use, so as to occupy but little space, and which may be quickly expanded in time of emergency. A further object is to produce a boat of this type which is constructed of very light, but seaworthy material. A further object is to rovide means for insuring buoyancy of the Boat and to prevent overturning thereof.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating the locking means for the telescoping sections.

80 Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating the boat collapsed. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view illustrating a slight modification.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates the side bars of the bottom of the main frame, said side bars being of tubular construction, and held in spaced relation by a transverse bar 11, attached thereto in any suitable manner. Said side bars are provided with upright tubular extensions 12, into which extend smaller telescoping members 13 attached to the upper side bars 14. When the bars 14 are in their raised. position, the members 13 are engaged by spring locking devices 15, to prevent collapsing thereof.

Telescoping with the side bars 10, are the arms of approximately U-shaped end frames 16, each provided with tubular uprights 17, which telescope with reduced members 18 attached to upper end frames 19, telescoping with the ends of the side bars 14. The frames 16 are locked in extended relation by means of spring catches 15, similar to those already described, and similar catches also serve to lock the telescoping members 17 and 18 in extended relation. Covering the frames is a body 20, preferably of canvas, or any other, suitable material possessing the necessary waterproof and wear-resisting properties, the edges of the fabric being secured to the top frames in any desired manner. Secured to the frames 16 are bars 21,

of substantially V'ShELPQ, with the point of three floats or sets of floats, one being located beneath the middle of the boat, and the other two beyond the sides thereof. By this ar rangement ample buoyancy is provided and the floats are so positioned as to resist over turning of the boat. a

In practice, the parts are normally collapsed as illustrated in Fig. 4, the end frames being moved inwardly to the limit of their movement, the top frames being moved downwardly to the limit of their movement, the fabric forming the body of the boat be ing folded, as shown. In this manner the boat occupies but little space. When it is desired to use the same, the end frames are drawn outwardly until movement is arrested by the spring catches 15, and the upper frame is moved upwardly to the limit of its movement, whereupon the boat is ready for occupancy.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a slight modifica tlon designed to increase the capacity of the boat. In this form the frames heretofore described are made much larger, and the upright bars 12 are provided with hooks to be engaged by straps 24, which in turn are engaged by hooks attached to bars 25 supporting a flexible canvas floor 26. Said floor is further supported by means of stays 27 attached thereto and to hooks 28 carried by the bars 13 and 18. If desired a roof 29 may also be provided, the same being held in place by suitable hooks attached to the top frame bars. By this arrangement a number of passengers may be placed in the bottom of the boat, and others may be carried by the floor 26. Of course, the floats 23 are made sufficiently large to provide the necessary buoyancy.

Having thus explained the nature of the inv nti n, and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, the following is claimed 1. A collapsible life boat comprising a main frame composed of vertically spaced straight tubular top and bottom members open at both ends, and rigid end frames having top and bottom bars telescoping within the open ends of said tubular members, said end frames preventing relative lateral movement of the top and bottom members at all times, a flexible water-proof body secured to said frames, and floats connected with the frames.

2. A collapsible life boat comprising a main frame composed of vertically spaced straight tubular top and bottom members open at both ends, and rigid end frames having U-shaped top and bottom barstelescoping with the open ends of said tubular members, said end frames preventing rela- .tive lateral movement of the top and bottom members at all times, a flexible water-proof body secured to said frames, and floats also connected with said frames.

3. A collapsible life boat comprising a bottom frame having tubular side members open at both ends, means forpreventing relative lateral movement of said frames, rigid end frames having bottom bars telescoping with the open ends of said side members,

" sectional top frames vertically adjustable with respect to said tubular side members and Withrespect to the end frames, a flexible and also provided with upright members,

sectional top frames having depending members telescoping with the upright members, a flexible water-proof body attached to all of said frames, and floats attached'to the bottom and end frames.

5. A collapsible lifeboat comprising a middle frame, end frames adjustably connected therewith, cross bars secured to the respective frames and having downturnecl projections, floats secured to said projections, and a flexible waterproof body'attached to said frames. 7 y

6. A collapsible life boat comprising a collapsible bottom frame, a collapsible top frame adjustably connected therewith, a flexible Waterproof -body secured to said frames, floats connected with said frames,

a temporary floor, and means connected with I said frames for supporting said floor.

In testimony whereof I have liereunto set my hand 1n presence of two subscribing w1tnesses. I j V j j LUIGI VECCHIO. WVitnesses: 7 V

Josnrn A. PADULA, TONY FERRARA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eachpby addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D; G. 

